What I mean is the ncore has an output noise of 25uV and a signal to noise ratio of 125 db. Gain is only 26 db ( most pro audio amps are 36db). So if you get a hiss out of your speakers, the gainstructure before the ncore is wrong.

What I mean is the ncore has an output noise of 25uV and a signal to noise ratio of 125 db. Gain is only 26 db ( most pro audio amps are 36db). So if you get a hiss out of your speakers, the gainstructure before the ncore is wrong.

You have to solve the problem at the source!

There doesn't necessarily have to be a problem - but why would you on purpose give away some SNR? And Bruno has commented that the performance of the nc400 does improve a tiny bit with increased feedback (which is what you get if you lower the gain instead of attenuating the signal).

Any attenuating network will always compromise the impedance matching between source and amp to some degree. Whether it makes any audible difference is another matter, but why eschew an ideal solution in favour of an inferior one at the same cost and effort?

...but why eschew an ideal solution in favour of an inferior one at the same cost and effort?

Well, it seems that the relatively simple task of desoldering an SMD resistor can turn into a disaster for quite a few people.
Considering NC400s are not exactly affordable modules, if one is not confident with his soldering skills, he'd be better off using attenuators.

__________________"You have a hierarchy: a mathematician, a physicist (which is a failed mathematician), and an engineer (which is a failed physicist)." - Andrew Jones

Definitely the easiest solution if there is provision for it. Many of us have sources with limited gain range.

Quote:

Soldering on these modules is like Russian roulette for most of us.

Right - but this is DIYaudio after all

I agree that people should be aware that the removal of R141 requires precision soldering and can go wrong.

I was simply responding to the question posted by ds23man, "Why do people always want to change the gain?", by pointing out there are good reasons to do it. Is it worth the risk? That's a different question.

Definitely the easiest solution if there is provision for it. Many of us have sources with limited gain range.

Right - but this is DIYaudio after all

I agree that people should be aware that the removal of R141 requires precision soldering and can go wrong.

I was simply responding to the question posted by ds23man, "Why do people always want to change the gain?", by pointing out there are good reasons to do it. Is it worth the risk? That's a different question.

We can put this in another way: If I have high sensitivity speakers ( 100db+), why I want to use a high power amp?

We can put this in another way: If I have high sensitivity speakers ( 100db+), why I want to use a high power amp?

Maybe you want to be able to play really loud?

Independent of your speaker sensitivity or amp power, you might have a situation where the last 10 dB of input amplitude make the amp clip. Lowering the amp gain 10 dB still allows you to play at full volume, but gives you 10 dB extra signal-to-noise ratio.